The Blood Covenant

by Emily Bex

  “I...uh...I drove here, but you could escort me to the valet, and wait with me until they bring my car around.”

  “Si, grazie! May I?” He took her arm as he led her to the door. “Mi amore, your wrap?

  “I didn’t wear a wrap this evening. I was in such a hurry to get here, it never crossed my mind.”

  “Please take my jacket.” He slipped off his tuxedo jacket and slid it over her, letting his hands glide over her shoulders. Walking with her outside, he handed the valet her ticket. “Si. You should be more careful. You could catch a chill in this fall weather. I have enjoyed my evening very much. I hope I was not a bore, and I will let you know if I get the painting. Perhaps you could help me hang it, if I am so lucky to win it.”

  “I’d like that very much. And thank you for the jacket. I forgot how chilly it gets in the fall once the sun goes down.” She turned her head to one side, inhaling deeply his scent on his jacket. This evening had gone by much too fast. She hated leaving him.

  “Please take the jacket and wear it home to keep you warm. I am sure we will see each other again soon.”

  The valet pulled up in a red Miata. Taking her into his arms, Shade pulled her close. “I wish to see you again. I hope the feeling is mutual.” Leaning down, he slid his hand to the back of her head, pulled her face to his, and kissed her deeply. His tongue explored her mouth, his hand tangled in her hair. Breaking the kiss, he looked into her eyes. “Be safe, mi amore, until we meet again.” He walked her around to the driver’s side, taking her hand, helping her into the car, and tucked in his jacket sleeves. “Watch those shoes, no breaking a heel.” Laughing, he closed the car door and stood back.

  She looked at him through the glass, and mouthed the words, ’good night.’ As she drove away, she glanced back at him in her rear-view mirror. She knew the scent of her rose perfume would be left on his jacket. She felt like she was marking his territory.

  She turned on the radio and Norah Jones was singing "Turn Me On”. She sighed as the thought to herself," no kidding, Norah. She got back to her Arlington condo, parked the car and headed upstairs. As she stepped inside the door, she removed the shoes and walked barefoot across the living room to the large window. His jacket still around her shoulders, she looked out over the city.

  Shade had teleported back to his penthouse and watched her as she stood at her window, looking out into the night, lost in thought. She slid his jacket off her shoulders and carried it to her bedroom. He followed her movements as she walked barefooted to the other room, tossing his jacket on the bed. She reached behind her back and unzipped the dress. Something he’d like to do for her. She lowered the black sheath down her slender body, the knit clinging to every curve. She was wearing a black strapless bra and a black lace thong. He placed both palms against his window, as he watched her move around the room in the barely-there lace undergarments.

  He remembered the taste of her tonight, his tongue exploring her mouth. He recalled her scent, the heady fragrance of roses, mixed with her desire for him. He felt his cock turn to steel.

  His eyes never left her as he continued to watch from his window. She took off the bra, her breasts freed. He fought the desire to teleport into her room, shadow himself, stand next to her, touch her. He felt his beast rear up inside him, and he heard the low growl. The beast wanted her now and Shade battled hard to push him down, hold him at bay, but the beast would only be held back for so long before he’d demand his due.

  He was mesmerized by her as she stood with her back to the window, and raised her arms above her head, running her hands through long red hair that fell around her shoulders. Shade felt his fangs punch through as his eyes glowed red, and the beast roared as he stepped back from the window. He had not fed in a few days, and this cat and mouse play with Kate had pushed the beast too far. He dare not go to her now. He was past the point of being able to control the black soulless bastard inside him.

  He paced the floor. He must have an outlet now, but he was still too new to the States to know where to go. He couldn’t afford to let the beast loose in a rampage on mortals in Alec’s territory. That might draw unwanted attention. Besides, that was not his style. He grabbed his cell and dialed Alec.

  “Brother, what’s up?”

  The beast responded in a hoarse growl, “Need help.”

  Alec replied, “A feeder?”

  The beast growled, “Too late for that.”

  Alec sighed. “There’s a safe house on Q Street, near Logan Circle. The password changes daily. Today it’s ‘Renegade.’ Can you get there in time?” Alec heard the call end and hoped Shade could get there in time.

  Shade teleported out to the safe house. There wasn’t time for a response. He was running out of time.

  A vamp safe house provided a safe environment for any vampire to release the beast to fuck and feed indiscriminately. There were no mortals there, as they’d be devoured, destroyed. A vampire would only find other unattached immortals, seeking violent release for their own beast. Like mortals, vampires had a sexual preference, but unlike mortals, they had no labels for heterosexual or homosexual practices. The beast took what was available, and made no moral judgments. In the safe house, the beast was released to savagely attack, to feed, knowing their partners, and there would be many, would all be healed by daylight.

  Shade stood before the heavily fortified door of the building on Q Street. The windows were all darkened and barred. He impatiently rang the bell, and a small portal was opened. He saw the red eyes of another’s beast staring back at him. He growled the word, “renegade,” and the door was opened. Shade entered the dark rooms and released the energy of his long pent up beast, who immediately succumbed to the hedonistic pleasures that awaited him.

  There were vampires who’d release their beast on mortals, knowing it would mean certain death for the mortal, but Shade would not. His Warrior’s code prevented him from unleashing such strength and violence on anything so weak and defenseless they posed no immediate threat to him.

  In Florence, he had a regular schedule for feeding, mortals who were willing partners, or immortals he could seek out, as well as a compound full of feeders, but he’d not established those relationships here yet. And then he met her, that unexpected redhead who called to him in a completely different way.

  Not all vamps had established a permanent bond with a mate, but as a master, it was expected of him. As royalty, it was demanded of him, as he must mate and breed to produce an heir. But in five hundred years, he hadn’t found her. There’d been two he’d thought possible, but in the end, he wouldn’t seal the blood covenant with either Adriana or Sabine. His relationship with Adriana was centuries ago, and she was long dead, residing now in the spirit realm. His relationship with Sabine was more recent. But with both of these immortal female warriors, he found he couldn’t, in the end, give his heart. And while he fed from them, he wouldn’t allow them to feed from him, completing the circle that created the eternal bond between master and mate.

  In five hundred years of experiencing the sexual jolt that accompanied feeding from others, both mortal and immortal, and watching the pleasure they received as well, he’d never experienced what it felt like to have someone feed from him, that ultimate intimacy of mutual feeding that would bind them for all eternity.

  As sunrise neared, the beast was sated and Shade teleported back to the penthouse, stripping away his bloody clothes. Stepping into the shower, he watched as blood flowed down the drain. He leaned his head against the shower wall. His body well-fed, his sexual appetite satisfied, but emptiness in his soul. He hated giving in to the darkness of the beast.

  9

  Kate slept late after the charity event at the National Gallery of Art and spent a quiet Sunday reading, but her social calendar had kept her from getting any work done. So, now, Sunday evening would be spent trying to get caught up for a client presentation scheduled for Monday morning. She pulled out her laptop, but when she went through her briefcase, she discovere
d she’d not packed up the client file she needed. Fuck! This meant she’d have to go back to the office.

  She stuffed her laptop back into the shoulder bag and shoved everything back in her briefcase. She considered taking the car since it was already dark out, but if she took the metro, maybe she could at least get through some email on the trip in. She pulled on a pair of boots with her jeans, grabbed a light jacket, threw the briefcase and computer bag over her shoulder, and headed out to the metro station.

  She had only walked a block when she thought there was someone following her. She glanced over her shoulder. The man hung back, looking away, shuffling his feet. She convinced herself it was a coincidence and walked a little faster. She heard his footsteps behind her again, keeping pace with her own. She slipped her cell phone from her pocket and called Shannon, feeling if someone was on the phone with her, she’d somehow feel safer.

  She picked up her pace again, as she listened to the phone ring, and roll to voicemail. Fuck! She glanced over her shoulder again, and he stopped, turned away from her, acting like he was looking in a shop window. Okay, this is no coincidence. Her heart started pounding as she looked around. The streets were empty at this hour. She looked through her phone again, scrolling past out-of-state family members and work associates until she saw his name. Hesitating for a few seconds, she hit dial.

  ***

  Shade was busy at the Dead House, getting ready to call in the gang of so-called warriors. It felt good to get back to what he knew best, being a warrior and taking out the rogues that threaten their kind with exposure to the mortal world. Hearing his cell buzz, he looked and saw it was Kate. “Kate, to what do I owe this most pleasurable call?”

  He could hear the tremble in her voice. “I...I'm so sorry to bother you...if you don't mind. Could you stay on the phone with me?”

  He stood up from the beat-up office chair and started pacing. “What is wrong, tell me where you are. Talk to me, I am right here.”

  “I'm walking to the Metro station near my condo. I need to go to work, but I think someone is following me. So, if you'll just stay on the phone...”

  Son of a bitch, if anyone is touching my woman. “I am on my way, mi amore, I’m in Georgetown, not far. I’m coming to you, just keep talking to me. It will take me about fifteen minutes. Stay on the phone. Don’t lose sight of him.” I am going to rip some fuckers head right off if he as much as looks at her. Teleporting straight out, he had to stall, he couldn’t raise questions by arriving too quickly. He caught sight of her and her predator and stayed close to her on the rooftops. He dropped to the ground and kept hidden, but close enough to nail this scum if he got too close to her.

  Kate looked over her shoulder and saw the guy stop again. She spoke a little louder, trying to make sure he knew she was on the phone, and aware of him. "Oh, you don't need to come out...really. I don't want to inconvenience you. I'm sure it is nothing. I just wanted someone to talk to."

  As she continued to walk, she could see the metro station ahead, and the platform was deserted. That wasn’t unexpected at this hour on a Sunday night, but she’d been hoping for a few commuters. Now, she’d have to stand alone and wait for the train. Her heartbeat quickened. "Are you still there?"

  “Si, I am right here, mi amore, almost to you. Take a deep breath. Don’t let him see your fear, he will feed on it. I am so close Kate. Stay in the moonlight, out of the shadows and near streetlights. It will deter him, too much light.”

  His voice comforted her. “I’m about a block from the Pentagon City Metro platform. He’s still following me. I don't know what to do now. The platform’s deserted. I'll stop walking soon." She could hear the panic in her voice and was kicking herself for not taking the car. "Please don't hang up...but is there someone near you? Someone who could call the police? I don't want to hang up."

  “Kate, turn around. Do you see me? I am right here.”

  She looked back at the predator and saw Shade walking up fast behind him. She’d never been so relieved to see someone. She turned in his direction and started walking fast, then broke into a run in his direction. The predator looked startled as she ran straight at him, then looked over his shoulder and saw Shade behind him.

  As she ran straight into Shade’s arms, he picked her up, crushing her to his chest, and felt her shaking. He looked over her head and saw the predator watching them. Shade showed him a bit of fang and watched his eyes bug out of his head. Now, you fucking bastard, you know what it feels like to scare someone. He watched as the scumbag almost fell trying to get the hell out of there. Retracting his fangs, he released Kate from the grip against his chest.

  “Mi amore, shhhh, it’s okay now, I’m here. He is gone. You are safe now.”

  Kate felt herself sobbing she was so relieved. "I don't know how you got to me so quickly, but I’m so glad to see you. Thank you, thank you for coming.”

  He felt her shaking. This was what he was born to do, protect this woman...his mate? It hit him hard. She was the one. The one he’d been searching for his entire life. This beautiful female with the crimson locks was his. He wanted to throw back his head and howl, letting all the vampires in the night know, ‘She is mine!’ He slid his hands into her hair. He could feel her heart racing against his chest. Lifting her face to his, he saw her tears and it damn near broke him. He leaned down and kissed the tears from her cheeks. Licking his lips, he tasted the salty sweetness and his beast wanted more. He wanted to taste all of her, her life’s blood, which he wanted for his own.

  “It is fine now. He is gone, I am here. No more tears. I will never let anything happen to you, I promise you.” Tipping up her chin, he kissed her lips gently at first and then intensified the kiss, letting her know he wanted her, he was always here for her, and he’d be hers for all eternity if she’d let him.

  He set her back down gently on her feet, as they both reluctantly broke from the kiss. She looked up at him. "Do you mind...if I’m not imposing...could you wait with me until the train comes?"

  “Of course I will wait with you, and I am riding there with you as well. No more scary business this night and no argument from you, si? It is done. What in the hell are you doing out here at this time of night? What am I going to do with you?” He smiled down at her.

  "I was going in to work for a few hours. I had planned to work at home, but I left some of the files I needed at the office. We have a presentation to a client in the morning, so I had to run in. I’ve lived here in this condo for five years, and I went to college here before that. I’ve never had a problem before, even though everyone warned me. I guess my good luck ran out. Well, maybe not completely out, you came along."

  The subway train arrived. He got on with her, sitting close to her on the bench seat. Snuggling in beside her, he laid his hand softly on her thigh. “So, tell me, how long will it take you to run into the building, grab this file and come back out? I will wait, si?”

  "Oh, that’s not necessary. Please, I’ve inconvenienced you enough for one night. I was just going to work there for a few hours, and I can take a taxi home. I promise to take a taxi. I'll be safe."

  He slid his hand along her thigh and smiled at her. “No inconvenience, I assure you. You call me any time. I worry for you out here at night. I will wait for you to get your files and I’ll call for a taxi to take you home. I am not leaving you alone in that building. It is not safe and I will not be comfortable until I know you are home. That is that, si?”

  She leaned against his shoulder on the small bench seat. She loved how he made her feel protected, and when was the last time someone made her feel like this? To be honest, she hated working alone in that building late at night, it had always creeped her out.

  "Thank you." She kissed him on the cheek, a quick kiss, before turning her head and looking down at her hands, clutched together in her lap. “I will take you up on that offer."

  The subway pulled into L'Enfant Plaza and they exited. They made their way up the steps to the streets of D.C. He t
ook her shoulder bags and tossed them over his shoulder, holding her hand as he walked her to the building. She grabbed her ID card and swiped it through the card reader to gain access to the building. "I'll just be a minute."

  He grabbed the door as it opened, and followed her in. “I will not let you out of my sight this night."

  She smiled back at him as they made their way to her cubicle. She quickly found the files she needed, and they left the building together, the taxi already waiting outside.

  He walked her to the taxi and grabbed her around the waist, kissing her. “Now, instructions. You get in this taxi, which is paid for. You go straight home. And when you get there, you get inside and lock the door. Are we clear? This is how it is going to be, si?”

  He pulled her hard against his chest again, and she was aware of his strength and the hardness of his chest. She fought the desire to run her hands up his chest and shoulders, as he kissed her. She was surprised by how much she liked how he took control. She liked that he led the way, looked after her, and commanded her. Normally, she would have bristled at someone giving her orders. But from him, she found it...sexy. Was that just because she’d been so spooked tonight? She thought not.

  "Don't worry. Straight home, door locked, and thank you, really. I can't thank you enough."

  He handed her the shoulder bags, as she got settled in her seat, then closed the door behind her. She turned and looked back at him standing on the sidewalk, as the taxi pulled away.

  The cab dropped her off in front of her condo, and Kate tried to tip him. The driver responded, “No ma’am, everything's been taken care of.”